Car-brake



F. L macro. GAR BRAKE.

No Model.)

No. 485,135. Patented Oct. 25, 1892.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIC FRANK IGNAGIO REGO, OF ALLSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

CAR-BRAKE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 485,135, dated 001301381 25, 1892.

Application filed May 13, 1392. Serial No. 432,884- (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK Iennoro REoo,

a subject of the King of Portugal,and a resi-' following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

The object of my invention is to provide means on a car-truck whereby the desired working distance between the brake-shoes and the wheels may be maintained, and thus compensate for the wear of the brake-shoes.

The invention consists in the devices and combinations of devices hereinafter set forth, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows a vertical section of so much of a car-truck and an elevation of so much of brake mechanism embodying my invention as is sufficient to illustrate the same. Fig. 2 shows a part of one of the connecting-rods and a section of the locknut thereon. Fig. 3 shows a part of the other connecting-rod and a section of the springnut thereon. Fig. 4 shows an end view of the spring-nut, the end plate having been removed. Fig. 5 shows an end view of the lock-nut and transverse section of the stand therefor.

The brake-beams A are suspended in the ordinary manner by means of the links a. To

, these beams are secured the brake-shoes B by the usual means, there being springs 19 for swinging the brake beams and shoes in the direction away from the wheels 0. I secure to one of the brake-beams a stand D and to the otherbrake-beam a stand E.

To a brake-beam, by means of the stand D, is pivoted at c a lever F, the upper end of which is to swing against a stop fixed to the body of the truckas, for instance, the transverse part G of the frame. To the otherbrakebeam, by means of the stand E, is pivoted at d a lever H, to the upper end of which is pivoted the rod 1, by which the power is applied, as by the well-known air-brake mechanism. To a brake-beam or the stand D is also pivoted a rod J at e, and to the lower end of the lever F a rod K at f. Each of these rods are threaded at the other end, the rod J having, preferably, a V-thread and the rod K a rent angular thread.

On the rod J is alock-nnt secured to abrakebeam or the stand E. This nut consists of two threaded blocks g,one on each of two opposite sides of the rod J in a casing therefor. The blocks fit the casing L of the nut so that they may slide therein, and when they slide toward the outer end of the rod that they may move into the larger part of the recess, as indicated by dotted lines, so as to pass over the threads on the rod. -'When they move in the reverse direction, the blocks will enter the smaller part of the recess in the casing, so that the thread of the blocks will engage with that of the rod. A spring h, pressing against each of the blocks g, will act to press the not into the required engagement with the rod. A plate M, fastened on the outer end of the casing L, will prevent the sliding blocks from being accidentally misplaced.

On the rod K is a nut having a central threaded portion N to fit the thread on the rod, and a casing 0, containing a spiral spring P, and in which the threaded part may revolve. The casing O has pivots 2', which enter openings therefor in links Q, which are also pivoted to the lower end of the lever H. One end of the spring P is fastened to the part N of the nut and the other end is fastened to the casing 0. When the parts of the mechanism are put together and adjusted for operation, the spring P is wound up, as by means of a key, which may engage with the part N by means of a hole j therein, so that the tendency of this nut is to screw on the rod toward the .unthreaded portion thereof.

In operation, when there is the usual pull by the rod I the brake-shoes will be forced against the wheels, the brake-beams swinging toward each other on account of the rod K and its connections with the levers. During this action the blocks g will slide on the rod J if there is any considerable space between the shoes and the wheels. VVhenthe pull on the rod I ceases and the springs b act to carry the shoes away from the wheels, the blocks will engage with the rod, so that while the shoes may move a sufficient distance away from the wheels to prevent actual contact they will not go to an undesirable distance therefrom. The springP may be set and kept at such tension that this nut will also move up on the rod K, when the pull on the rod I ceases if there is a greater distance between the lower ends of the levers F and H than is sufficient to simply allow the shoes to pass out of contact with the wheels. Thus the brake shoes are always kept in position to move only sufficient distance to allow them to operate successively, their surface which comes in contact with the wheels being maintained in substantially the same relative position to the surface of wheels, however great may be the wear of the shoes or wheels.

I claim as my invention 1. In combination with the brake-beams and brake-shoes of a car-truck, two levers by which the power is applied, each of which is pivoted to one of the brake-beams, a threaded rod pivoted to one brake-beam, a nut on said rod secured to the other brake-beam, and a threaded rod pivoted to one of said levers and having a nut which is pivoted to the other of said levers, said nuts being adapted to move freely in one direction on the rods, but restrained from moving in the other direction, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In combination with the brake-beams and brake-shoes of a car-truck, two levers by which the power is applied, each of which is pivoted to one of the brake-beams, a threaded rod pivoted to one of the brake-beams, a nut on said rod, secured to the other brake-beam and composed of a casing and threaded blocks to slide therein to move into or out of engageinent with said rod, a rod pivoted to one of said levers, having a nut thereon, a casing for the latter nut, pivoted to the other of said levers, there being a spring between and secured to this nut and casing therefor, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. A connection between two brake-beams of a car-brake, consisting of a rod pivoted to one of said beams and threaded at the other said blocks may slide and be brought into and out of engagement with the thread on said rod, said casing being secured to the other of said beams, substantially as described.

4. In a car-brake, a connection between the two levers thereof, consisting of a threaded rod pivoted to one of said levers and having a nut thereon revoluble in a casing which is pivoted to the other lever and a spring be tween and secured to said nut and casing, substantially as described.

FRANK IGNACIO REGO.

Witnesses:

JOSEPH M. VIVEIROS, EDW. DUMMER.

' end, blocks on said rod,'and a casing in which 

